Pakpattan
Encyclopedia
Pakpattan is the capital city of the Pakpattan District
in the Sahiwal Division
in the Punjab province of Pakistan
. Pakpattan is one of the ancient cities of Pakistan. It is the city that has the shrine of the well-known Sufi of all times, Baba Fareed. Pakpattan is located 190 km from Lahore
and is very close to Sahiwal
(about 45 km).
s). Before it was named as Ajoodhun, some believe that it was called 'Katora'. Old city prior to Saint Farid was sacred to Hindu
religion. Old city is established on a big mound called DHAKI meaning "something hidden'. This Dhaki is on higher altitude than the area around, there were gates to enter in the city. It is said that city was destroyed seventeen times in the history by great warriors. All times then after destruction a new city was built on the ruins of old city, because of this a big mond made up. From a very early date it was a place of importance, as the principal ferry across the Sutlej
River and the meeting-place of the great western roads from Dera Ghazi Khan
and Dera Ismail Khan
. The city was on the way to Multan State and Delhi Sultanate
. All warriors were travelling from Multan
to Dehli or Dehli to Multan
were crossing this city. This city was important in the line of defence all the times. A road called "Dehli Multan Road' road was constructed by Sher Shah Suri. The Landmarks of Dehli Multan Road
are still in use by Punjab Road Transportation Department. Anybody can read the mileage of Dehli and Multan
at any time in all over the area, only present in modern times in this area. The fort defending the city was once captured by Sebüktegin
in 977–78 and by Ibrahim Ghaznavi in 1079–80.
According to Firishta
, an old writer and historian, in 1079 its fort was conquered by Ibrahim Ghaznavi/Ibrahim Bin Masaud Ghaznavi.
The town owes its sanctity and modern name, 'the holy ferry', to the shrine of the great Muslim Sufi Fariduddin Ganjshakar Shaikh-ul-Islam, Farid-ul-Hakkwa-ud-Din, Shakar Ganj (1173–1265) which was visited by old great traveller and historian Ibn Batuta in 1334. The town was besieged by Shaikha; the Khokhar, in 1394, and in 1398 was visited by Timur
, Mughal
Emperor who spared much of the inhabitants as had not fled, out of respect for the shrine of the saint. It was the scene of two of Khizr Khan's victories over generals of the Delhi
1401 and 1405. The shrine of Baba Farid attracts crowds of followers, its sanctity being acknowledged as far as Afghanistan
and Central Asia
. The urs
(death anniversary) of Saint Baba Farid is observed every year in Islamic/lunar month of Muharram
, that lasts for ten days. Hundreds of thousands pilgrims and visitors come every year to pay homage to this great Saint. The principal event of urs
is crossing of gate that called Bahishti Darwaza (Gate of Heavens). Followers believe by crossing this gate all of your sins are pardoned and one becomes neat and clean again. Some critics say it is unholy to cross this gate with this intention but believe its sanctity. Critics argue it is good to cross this gate with resolution not to do sins in future life. This "Gate To Heavens' remains open ten consecutive nights after sunset to sunrise and padlocked during the day time. This gate is padlocked all the year except these ten days.
, 29 miles south-east of Montgomery
station on the North-Western Railway. The municipality was created in 1867, the population in 1901 was 6,192. During the ten years ending 1902-3 the income averaged Rs. 7,200, and the expenditure Rs. 7,000. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 8,400, chiefly derived from octroi
; and the expenditure was Rs. 7,300.
According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India:
had much respect for the Saint Fareed and always was sending money and gifts for shrine and its caretakers. Mian Nawaz Sharif
(Ex. Prime Minister) and Benazir Bhuto (Ex. Prime Minister), Musharaf (Ex. President of Pakistan) also visited the shrine of Baba Farid ud Din Ganj-e-Shakar.Main politicians of pakpattan are mian ghulam muhammad manika, mian ahmedraza manika, chaudhry javed ahmed muhammad shah khagga dewan azmat said muhammad chisti mian irfan adil bhandara(pmL/N)
and mela
(s) are celebrated every year such as urs
of Baba Farid and mela
of Chan pir etc. Urs of Baba farid attracts more than 500,000 people every year between 1st to 10th of Moharram (Islamic month of Hijri Calender), so is the case with mela Chan pir which is held every year in the beginning of summer in the outskirt of Pakpattan, at Chan pir (Located in south side of city about 3 km far where shrine of Chan Pir and Sakhi Ghulam Qadir. The village is named Chan Pir or Basti Sakhi Ghulam Qadir).
It is also remarkable that a local Poilitician Dewan azmat Said Muhammad Chishti Ex MPA and Tehsil Nazim arrange an national level Dewan Ghulam Qutub-ud-Din Memorial Tent Pegging competition.In this competition thousands of people all around the country participate.This competition is liked by the Villagers as well as citizens living in cities.
) after arrival of Sufi Saint Baba Fareed whose shrine is located here - today people come all over the world to pass through a gate called "Bahishti Darwaza" or Heavens Gate to the shrine from the 1st of Muharram
to 5th of Muharram
every year. Hazrat Baba Fareed, a great personality of India was married out with the daughter of the King of that era,Ghayyas-ud-din Balban. The founder of the Sikh
Faith Guru Nanak had reverence to Baba Fareed and hence Sikhs also come here to pay tribute. In 1770 after a battle between Mobarak Khan II of Bahawalpur and Hari Singh
, it was agreed that "the neutral town of Pakpattan, held by a Muslim saint of eminence, should be the common boundary"
Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar died on 5th of Muharram 664 A.H. corresponding to 17 October 1265 C.E. He was buried in Pakpattan (135 miles (190 km) approx. off Lahore).
Baba Farid settled down in a place very next to his current shrine. Once this place was marked with a tall flag that can be seen from the entrance of the main mosque of the shrine. He started preaching the Hindus about Islam
. In a short time, a huge number of Hindus in the region embraced Islam. Those who did not, became ardent followers of Baba Farid and often visited him to seek spiritual guidance.
His shine was quite old by 1990s. Government of Nawaz Sharif
, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan
ordered the development of a large complex with a grant of RS40 Millions. Due to changes of the government, the project faced several delays and continues until today. As a part of the project, the old historical mosque was demolished despite opposition by the Department of Archaeology and Museums to preserve the old historical mosque. During the 1990s, the old 'Hujra' (the praying room) of Baba Farid's dearest pupil and son-in-law Khwaja Makhdoom Alauddin Ahmed Sabir was also renovated by the government. The new 'Hujra' is an imitation of the design of the original 'Dargah' of Khwaja Makhdoom Alauddin Ahmed Sabir in Kaliyar Sharif (Roorkee).
Ganj Shakar Trust Hospital Pakpattan is serving the needy and poor people under the aegis of local NGO Baba Fareed Ganj Shakar Educational And welfare trust, Pakpattan.
Pakpattan District
Pakpattan District is a district of Punjab Province in Pakistan, Pakpattan is the district capital. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, it had a population of 1,286,680 of which 14% were urban...
in the Sahiwal Division
Sahiwal Division
Sahiwal Division is one of the nine Divisions of Punjab province of Pakistan. As of 1998, current regions of Sahiwal had a population of 6,271,247 people, with an annual growth-rate of 1.92%. Since 2008, Sahiwal District along with Okara District and Pakpattan District has comprised the Sahiwal...
in the Punjab province of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Pakpattan is one of the ancient cities of Pakistan. It is the city that has the shrine of the well-known Sufi of all times, Baba Fareed. Pakpattan is located 190 km from Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and is very close to Sahiwal
Sahiwal
Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...
(about 45 km).
Ancient history
Pakpattan is the ancient Ajoodhun or Ajj-u-dhan, which probably derived its name from the [Yaudheya] tribe (the modern JohiyaJohiya
Johiya , also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, and Joeya, is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh", a region that included Haryana,...
s). Before it was named as Ajoodhun, some believe that it was called 'Katora'. Old city prior to Saint Farid was sacred to Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religion. Old city is established on a big mound called DHAKI meaning "something hidden'. This Dhaki is on higher altitude than the area around, there were gates to enter in the city. It is said that city was destroyed seventeen times in the history by great warriors. All times then after destruction a new city was built on the ruins of old city, because of this a big mond made up. From a very early date it was a place of importance, as the principal ferry across the Sutlej
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
River and the meeting-place of the great western roads from Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan is a city located in Dera Ghazi Khan District, Punjab, Pakistan. Dera Ghazi Khan is one of the most populous cities in Southern Punjab, and it is the largest district in Punjab in terms of area, being approximately in extent....
and Dera Ismail Khan
Dera Ismail Khan
Dera Ismail Khan is a city in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is situated on the west bank of the Indus River, west of Lahore and northwest of Multan. The city is the capital of the district and tehsil of the same name. In Pakistan, its name is often abbreviated to D. I...
. The city was on the way to Multan State and Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
. All warriors were travelling from Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
to Dehli or Dehli to Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
were crossing this city. This city was important in the line of defence all the times. A road called "Dehli Multan Road' road was constructed by Sher Shah Suri. The Landmarks of Dehli Multan Road
Dehli Multan Road
Delhi Multan Road was constructed by the Delhi Sultanate ruler Sher Shah Suri in order to improve transit in the areas between Multan and Delhi. There were small posts every few miles where horses were ready to receive messages to send from one post to another. Messages from the Delhi court were...
are still in use by Punjab Road Transportation Department. Anybody can read the mileage of Dehli and Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
at any time in all over the area, only present in modern times in this area. The fort defending the city was once captured by Sebüktegin
Sebük Tigin
Abu Mansur Sabuktigin , also spelled as Sabuktagin, Sabuktakin, Sebüktegin and Sebük Tigin, is generally regarded by historians as the founder of the Ghaznavid Empire...
in 977–78 and by Ibrahim Ghaznavi in 1079–80.
According to Firishta
Firishta
Firishta or Ferishta, full name Muhammad Qasim Hindu Shah , was born in 1560 and died in 1620 and he was a Persian historian. The name Firishta means angel or one who is sent in Persian.-Life:...
, an old writer and historian, in 1079 its fort was conquered by Ibrahim Ghaznavi/Ibrahim Bin Masaud Ghaznavi.
The town owes its sanctity and modern name, 'the holy ferry', to the shrine of the great Muslim Sufi Fariduddin Ganjshakar Shaikh-ul-Islam, Farid-ul-Hakkwa-ud-Din, Shakar Ganj (1173–1265) which was visited by old great traveller and historian Ibn Batuta in 1334. The town was besieged by Shaikha; the Khokhar, in 1394, and in 1398 was visited by Timur
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
, Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor who spared much of the inhabitants as had not fled, out of respect for the shrine of the saint. It was the scene of two of Khizr Khan's victories over generals of the Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
1401 and 1405. The shrine of Baba Farid attracts crowds of followers, its sanctity being acknowledged as far as Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. The urs
Urs
Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...
(death anniversary) of Saint Baba Farid is observed every year in Islamic/lunar month of Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
, that lasts for ten days. Hundreds of thousands pilgrims and visitors come every year to pay homage to this great Saint. The principal event of urs
Urs
Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...
is crossing of gate that called Bahishti Darwaza (Gate of Heavens). Followers believe by crossing this gate all of your sins are pardoned and one becomes neat and clean again. Some critics say it is unholy to cross this gate with this intention but believe its sanctity. Critics argue it is good to cross this gate with resolution not to do sins in future life. This "Gate To Heavens' remains open ten consecutive nights after sunset to sunrise and padlocked during the day time. This gate is padlocked all the year except these ten days.
British era
During British rule Pakpattan Town was headquarters of the tehsil of the same name in Montgomery DistrictMontgomery District
Montgomery District was an administrative district of the former Punjab Province of British India, in what is now Pakistan. Named after Sir Robert Montgomery, it lay in the Bari Doab, or the tract between the Sutlej and the Ravi rivers, extending also across the Ravi into the Rechna Doab, which...
, 29 miles south-east of Montgomery
Sahiwal
Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...
station on the North-Western Railway. The municipality was created in 1867, the population in 1901 was 6,192. During the ten years ending 1902-3 the income averaged Rs. 7,200, and the expenditure Rs. 7,000. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 8,400, chiefly derived from octroi
Octroi
Octroi is a local tax collected on various articles brought into a district for consumption.-Antiquity:Octroi taxes have a respectable antiquity, being known in Roman times as vectigalia...
; and the expenditure was Rs. 7,300.
According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India:
Politics
King Balban and Mughal King Akbar along with his son came themselves. Sikh ruler Ranjit SinghRanjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
had much respect for the Saint Fareed and always was sending money and gifts for shrine and its caretakers. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
(Ex. Prime Minister) and Benazir Bhuto (Ex. Prime Minister), Musharaf (Ex. President of Pakistan) also visited the shrine of Baba Farid ud Din Ganj-e-Shakar.Main politicians of pakpattan are mian ghulam muhammad manika, mian ahmedraza manika, chaudhry javed ahmed muhammad shah khagga dewan azmat said muhammad chisti mian irfan adil bhandara(pmL/N)
Festivals (urs and mela)
In Pakpattan and surrounding areas many ursUrs
Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...
and mela
Mela
Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a Fair. It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gathering and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sports. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance...
(s) are celebrated every year such as urs
Urs
Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...
of Baba Farid and mela
Mela
Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a Fair. It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gathering and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sports. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance...
of Chan pir etc. Urs of Baba farid attracts more than 500,000 people every year between 1st to 10th of Moharram (Islamic month of Hijri Calender), so is the case with mela Chan pir which is held every year in the beginning of summer in the outskirt of Pakpattan, at Chan pir (Located in south side of city about 3 km far where shrine of Chan Pir and Sakhi Ghulam Qadir. The village is named Chan Pir or Basti Sakhi Ghulam Qadir).
It is also remarkable that a local Poilitician Dewan azmat Said Muhammad Chishti Ex MPA and Tehsil Nazim arrange an national level Dewan Ghulam Qutub-ud-Din Memorial Tent Pegging competition.In this competition thousands of people all around the country participate.This competition is liked by the Villagers as well as citizens living in cities.
Baba Farid
It was renamed Pak Pattan (meaning "Clean Land" in old PunjabiPunjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
) after arrival of Sufi Saint Baba Fareed whose shrine is located here - today people come all over the world to pass through a gate called "Bahishti Darwaza" or Heavens Gate to the shrine from the 1st of Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
to 5th of Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
every year. Hazrat Baba Fareed, a great personality of India was married out with the daughter of the King of that era,Ghayyas-ud-din Balban. The founder of the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
Faith Guru Nanak had reverence to Baba Fareed and hence Sikhs also come here to pay tribute. In 1770 after a battle between Mobarak Khan II of Bahawalpur and Hari Singh
Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...
, it was agreed that "the neutral town of Pakpattan, held by a Muslim saint of eminence, should be the common boundary"
Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar died on 5th of Muharram 664 A.H. corresponding to 17 October 1265 C.E. He was buried in Pakpattan (135 miles (190 km) approx. off Lahore).
Baba Farid settled down in a place very next to his current shrine. Once this place was marked with a tall flag that can be seen from the entrance of the main mosque of the shrine. He started preaching the Hindus about Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. In a short time, a huge number of Hindus in the region embraced Islam. Those who did not, became ardent followers of Baba Farid and often visited him to seek spiritual guidance.
His shine was quite old by 1990s. Government of Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
ordered the development of a large complex with a grant of RS40 Millions. Due to changes of the government, the project faced several delays and continues until today. As a part of the project, the old historical mosque was demolished despite opposition by the Department of Archaeology and Museums to preserve the old historical mosque. During the 1990s, the old 'Hujra' (the praying room) of Baba Farid's dearest pupil and son-in-law Khwaja Makhdoom Alauddin Ahmed Sabir was also renovated by the government. The new 'Hujra' is an imitation of the design of the original 'Dargah' of Khwaja Makhdoom Alauddin Ahmed Sabir in Kaliyar Sharif (Roorkee).
Ganj Shakar Trust Hospital Pakpattan is serving the needy and poor people under the aegis of local NGO Baba Fareed Ganj Shakar Educational And welfare trust, Pakpattan.